R/CU returns with a new sport: ice racing

Chris Denslow (Digital Roostertails) Saturday testing album available here.

Chris Denslow (Digital Roostertails) Sunday raceday album part 1 available here.

Chris Denslow (Digital Roostertails) Sunday raceday album part 2 available here.

R/CU photo album from Sunday available here.

R/CU YouTube playlist available here.
Scott Meyers (M5 Performance) video available here.

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After a long offseason in the pacific northwest, R/CU returned in early April to a familiar spot: Two Rivers Park in Finley, WA. It was the first race of the 2022 Meyers Autotech Championship Series Powered By Rattlesnake RC, and the new season brought new boats and drivers to the field.

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We started off the year by celebrating the 2019 and 2021 seasons at a banquet the night before the race. With COVID cancelling the 2020 banquet, 2020 season, and 2021 banquet, it was long due for a return in 2022. You can check out all the winners of the hardware here! Special thanks to Fred Stock who helped us remember R/CU member Earl Schenck, and Don Mock who remembered R/CU member Harry Gatjens.

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With raceday came a large field and history made in R/CU. For the first time, 1/8th scale nitro was not the largest class in terms of number of boats entered. That title went to 1/8th scale electric (FE), with a robust 19-boat field! Joined by 16 1/8th scale nitros, 14 gas scales, and 6 1/10th scale electrics, and we had 55 boats entered for a very competitive field.

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Mother Nature served up a doozy of a day on Sunday. Luckily winds never became too much of a problem, aside from a few rogue gusts. However, there were scattered showers throughout the day. Each shower typically did not last longer than a few minutes, until the afternoon. A few larger cells brought consistent hail for 20-30 minutes at a time, causing delays and turning the pit area white. Nonetheless, we kept chugging along with the program, and while the racers were longing for 100 degree summer days, the boats loved the cold temperatures. 

1/10th Scale Electric (FE) Final

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1st: 1955 Such Crust IV, David Newton

2nd: 1954 St. Regis, Mason Dunn

3rd: 1971 Budweiser Malt Liquor, Dylan Hirano

4th: 1962 Miss Supertest, Brad Lewis

5th: 1970 Miss Budweiser, Clint Dunn

6th: 2016 Miss Homestreet Bank, KC Andres

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Never count out David Newton, especially behind the wheel of a 1/10th scale boat. Newton might not have had the fastest boat of the day, but when the final came out he navigated from the third lane and avoided any penalties to take the victory. Junior racers Mason Dunn and Dylan Hirano rounded out the podium.

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Gas Scale Consolation

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1st: 1977 Atlas Van Lines, Jim Whyte

2nd (DNF): 1971 Country Boy, John Olson

3rd (DNF): 1983 Miss Houston, Jim Curtis

4th (DNF): 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jason Walters

5th (DNF): 1990 Infinity Car Audio, Scott Meyers

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The Infinity Car Audio with Scott Meyers took an early lead, but uncharacteristically went dead coming out of the first turn. The Oh Boy! Oberto and Atlas Van Lines were challenging hard down the backstretch before they made contact, discarding the Atlas's tail feathers and spinning out the Oberto. In the chaos, the Country Boy also overshot a wake and barrel rolled. In the end, the judges ruled it a racing accident, and the Atlas was the last boat standing, advancing to the final.

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Gas Scale Final

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1st: 1983 KISW Miss Rock, Dave Brandt

2nd: 1993 Miss Budweiser T-3, Jeff Snell

3rd: 1977 Atlas Van Lines, Jim Whyte

4th (DNF): 1983 American Speedy Printing, Bill Brandt

5th (DNF): 1969 Pride of Pay'n Pak, Ken Olson

6th (DNS): 1982 Executone, Henry Oord

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Trooper Dave Brandt took the inside line at the start and never looked back, powering the Rock to an early lead and taking a comfortable victory. The race was marked by the miraculous flip of Bill Brandt's American Speedy Printing, who landed the corkscrew and kept racing until a later incident. It was a repeat race victory from 2021 for Dave Brandt.

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1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Second Consolation

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1st: 2008 Formulaboats.com U-5, Brady Brackett

2nd: 1968 Miss Bardahl, Randy Gosseen

(DNF): 1975 Weisfield's, Dylan Hirano

(DNF): 1969 Notre Dame, Marc Connelly

(DNF): 1971 Hallmark Homes, Jim Brittain

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For the first time we ran a second consolation heat for FE, and it was two junior racers in Brady Brackett and Dylan Hirano who were battling for the victory. Dylan's new Weisfield's hooked a few times which stifled his effort, and this allowed Brady to advance to the first consolation with the victory.

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1/8th Scale Electric (FE) First Consolation

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1st: 1987 Eliminator, Bill Brandt

2nd: 1986 Mr. Pringle's, Jason Walters

3rd: 1984 Miss Tosti Asti, David Newton

4th: 1989 Winston Eagle, Fred Stock

5th: 2008 Formulaboats.com U-5, Brady Brackett

6th (DNF): 1986 Miller American, Don Mock

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Two boats that we typically see in the finals were primed for a first connie matchup with the Eliminator and the Miller American. Unfortunately this never materialized as the Miller ran into adversity at the start. Bill Brandt took the early lead and while Jason Walters challenged with the Pringle's, it was too much to catch the quick yellow boat.

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1/8th Scale Electric (FE) Final

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1st: 2008 Formulaboats.com U-7, Rob Brackett

2nd: 1983 Miss Houston, Henry Oord

3rd: 1985 Coor's Light, Marty Shallenberger

4th: 2004 Graham Trucking, Bob Brackett

5th (DNF): 1987 Eliminator, Bill Brandt

6th (DNF): 1982 Atlas Van Lines, Rich Matkin

7th (DNF): 1970 Smythe the Smoother Mover, Brad Lewis

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How about a flip and win? Rob Brackett had the inside lane with the U-7 Formulaboats, and was cruising up the backstretch when the boat lifted up and did a complete 360. Normally this ends in heartbreak, but luckily the Formulaboats landed right side up and kept running! It was a sight to see, and helped Rob to his 5th Atomic Cup in the FE class.

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1/8th Scale Nitro Consolation

1st: 1983 American Speedy Printing (Red/White/Yellow), Mike Cathey

2nd: 2011 Lakeridge Paving, Gary Grembowski

3rd: 1982 Oh Boy! Oberto, Jim Brittain

4th (DNS): 1976 Olympia Beer, Joey Caines

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Mike Cathey simply had too much boat speed over the Oberto and Lakeridge, and cruised to the victory in the first connie. That put the American Speedy in the final as the trailer.

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1/8th Scale Nitro Final

1st: 1966 Miss Bardahl, Fred Olson

2nd: 1979 Miss Circus Circus, Geoffry Grembowski

3rd (DNF): 1976 Miss Vernor's, Kirk Maupin

4th (DNF): 1988 Miss Stroh's Light, Scott Meyers

5th (DNF): 1978 Squire Shop, Dave Brandt

6th (DNS): 1983 American Speedy Printing, Mike Cathey

7th (DNS): 1974 Red Man, Paul Jackson

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The first lap was quite busy, as the Stroh's collided with the Squire Shop at the start, and the Vernor's flipped at the backstretch. There was only two boats left, and quite a bit of debris to negotiate. Geoffry Grembowski gave chase and kept inside of the debris, while Fred Olson kept the boat speed up and went outside. It was a pretty close finish, but in the end the Miss Bardahl and Fred took the victory by about half a roostertail.

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April 8-10

Location: Two Rivers Park, Finley, WA

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Previous Race Winners:

Race held in Two Rivers Park, Finley, WA 2001-present

Race held in Columbia Park, Kennewick, WA 2000

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-2022: Fred Olson (1966 Miss Bardahl) [nitro], Rob Brackett (2008 Formulaboats.com II) [FE], Dave Brandt (1983 KISW Miss Rock) [gas]

-2021: Kirk Maupin (1976 Miss Vernors) [nitro], Bill Brandt (1987 Eliminator) [FE], Dave Brandt (1982 Gilmore Special) [gas]

-2020: Race cancelled due to COVID-19

-2019: Kirk Maupin (1976 Miss Vernors) [nitro], Rob Brackett (2008 Formulaboats.com II) [FE]

-2018: Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame) [nitro] and Bill Brandt (1972 Notre Dame) [FE]

-2017: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products) [nitro] and Rob Brackett (2011 Valken Sports) [FE]

-2016: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream) [nitro] and Rob Brackett (2011 Valken Sports) [FE]

-2015: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) [nitro] and Rob Brackett (2008 Formulaboats.com) [FE]

-2014: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) [nitro] and Bob Brackett (2011 Graham Trucking) [FE]

-2013: Kirk Maupin (1977 Squire) [nitro] and John Olson (1997 Close Call) [FE]

Prior to 2013, only nitro class run

-2012: Dave Brandt (2008 Miss Elam Plus)

-2011: Kirk Maupin (1977 Miss Esquire Products)

-2010: David Newton (1993 Miss Budweiser)

-2009: David Newton (2008 Spirit of Detroit)

-2008: Scott Meyers (1994 Miss Exide)

-2007: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2006: Dave Blacksten (1998 Llumar Window Film)

-2005: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2004: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2003: Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines)

-2002: Dave Brandt (1995 Pico American Dream)

-2001: Don Mock (1984 Atlas Van Lines)

-2000: David Jensen (1969 Pride of Pay 'N Pak)